Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A fixing device includes: a conveyance section that conveys a recording medium; a heating roll that rotates and heats the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance section; a pressure roll that is disposed to face the heating roll and rotates, around which at least a portion of the recording medium being conveyed is wound, and that pressurizes the wound portion of the recording medium toward the heating roll; a gripping section that is disposed in the conveyance section, grips a leading end of the recording medium being conveyed, and releases the gripping of the leading end of the recording medium when the recording medium passes through a facing position where the pressure roll and the heating roll face each other; and a blowing section that blows air in a direction different from a direction toward the recording medium released from being gripped by the gripping section to cool the pressure roll.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fixing device comprising:
 a conveyance section that conveys a recording medium;   a heating roll that rotates and heats the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance section;   a pressure roll that is disposed to face the heating roll and rotates, around which at least a portion of the recording medium being conveyed is wound, and that pressurizes the wound portion of the recording medium toward the heating roll;   a gripping section that is disposed in the conveyance section, grips a leading end of the recording medium being conveyed, and releases the gripping of the leading end of the recording medium when the recording medium passes through a facing position where the pressure roll and the heating roll face each other; and   a blowing section that blows air in a direction different from a direction toward the recording medium released from being gripped by the gripping section to cool the pressure roll.   
     
     
         2 . The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the pressure roll faces the heating roll from a lower side of the heating roll, and the blowing section blows air to a portion of the pressure roll that is on a lower side with respect to a center of rotation of the pressure roll.   
     
     
         3 . The fixing device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the blowing section blows air to the pressure roll such that the air flows in a rotation direction of the pressure roll.   
     
     
         4 . The fixing device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the blowing section blows air in a downward direction with respect to a horizontal direction.   
     
     
         5 . The fixing device according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 a suppressing member that is disposed downstream of the facing position and upstream side of a portion of the pressure roll to which air is blown by the blowing section in a rotation direction of the pressure roll, and that suppresses a flow of the air blown to the pressure roll by the blowing section along an outer peripheral surface of the pressure roll to a portion of the recording medium that has passed through the facing position.   
     
     
         6 . The fixing device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a recessed storage portion in which the gripping section is stored is formed in an outer peripheral surface of the pressure roll, and   the fixing device comprises a formation member that is disposed downstream of the facing position and upstream of a portion of the pressure roll to which air is blown by the blowing section in a rotation direction of the pressure roll, and in which a facing portion facing the storage portion that rotates is formed.   
     
     
         7 . The fixing device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 when the formation member is viewed from an outer side in a radial direction of the pressure roll in a state where the facing portion faces the storage portion, the facing portion entirely covers the storage portion.   
     
     
         8 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 1  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         9 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 2  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         10 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 3  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         11 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 4  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         12 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 5  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         13 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to  claim 6  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.   
     
     
         14 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a transfer section that transfers a toner image onto a recording medium; and   the fixing device according to claim  7  that fixes, to the recording medium, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium.